Igniter



A. F. COX

Feb. 2l, 1193-3.

IGNITER Filed .April 11. .1931

Patented Feb. y21, 1933 PATENT OFFICE ALBERT. F. COX,"QF-WARSAW,ILLINOIS IGNII'ER Application led April 11,

This invention broadly concerns igniting devices, and specifically toone of the twopart type, or in'other words, one which comprises a bodymember and a removable cap member, the latter carrying the pyrophoricmaterial.

It might be mentioned, that iny practical use it has been founddesirable to construct the device in a manner whereby it is not adaptedto contain more liquid fuel than is absorbe-d by the wick and absorbentmaterial. It is preferable that the wick be of a large diameter, andthat the absorbent material be packed thereabout as clearly shown, sothat a considerable quantity of fuel is absorbed.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide improvedmeans for supporting the wick and striker elements; said striker elementproviding means to assist in holding said means in position.

Another important object of my invention is to-simplify theconstructional features of the device in a manner whereby the same maybe economically produced.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the devicemay be treated with a perfume, and thereby eliminate that disagreeableodor of fuel which is generally used in such devices.

Another object of my invention is to construct the tubular body memberof the device in a manner whereby it is reenforced at one end. thisbeing accomplished by having the walls of a gradual thickness,preferably extending the full length of the body member.

Another object of my invention is to construct the body member of thedevice in the manner above referred to for the further purpose ofproviding means to assist in holding the means for supporting the wickand striker elements. y

Y A further object of my invention is to provide an integral cap memberfor the body member of the device, said cap member being closed at oneend and provided with a transverse slot of a length less than thediameter of the cap to receive the piece of pyrophoric material7preferably of a length less than the length of the slot, the reasons forso con- 1931. Serial No. 529,327.

structing said slot and said material being hereinafter set forth.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means forpermanently securing the pyrophoric material Within the slot formed inthe cap member. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide an indentedcircumferential band portion on the cap member so as to provide means toinsure good frictional engagement with the body member. A

vOther objects and advantages of the device will appear afterconsidering the .disclosure hereinafter set forth in connection with thedrawing hereunto annexed in which, j

Fig. l is a perspective View of the device illustrating the manner inwhich it is adapted to be used;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4: of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view clearly showing the manner in which thepyrophoric material is permanently secured in the cap member of thedevice.

With reference to the drawing wherein the principles underlying theunique construc- S0 tio-n of the device are clearly shown, it will beevident that the device is comprised of a few parts or members, whichare designed and constructed of materials which will permit theproductionof large (piantitiesy economio cally.

The body` member generally designated l which provides a container forfuel and a support for the majority of the parts or elements comprisingthe device is integral, of tubular construction, and is preferablyformed to provide'a conical end portion 2, and the neck-like portion 3.The body member is preferably tapered Within from one end to the otheras clearly shown in Fig. 2; the obj ect of which is to reinforce the endwhich carries certain parts of the device, and which will be hereinafterreferred to.

Arsuitable plug 4 capable of absorbing a n liquid is carried by the bodymember and l serves to provide a substantial support for the striker,and also provides means for reinforcing the end of the body member in amanner to prevent its being dented or becoming lop-sided. It will benoted that plug 4 conforms to the general contour of the body, and thatsame is provided with a conical end portion 5 which is preferablyadapted to engage or abut the conical end portion 2 of said body member.Obviously, a plug of any suitable material may be employed, but in thepresent instance, I have, by experiment, found it expedient to use aplug made from Wood. The wood from which the plug is constructed ispreferably well dried and seasoned and then immersed or treated with asuitable perfume until said is permeated or saturated; the result ofwhich will eliminate or counter-act that disagreeable odor ofthe liquidfuel generally used in such devices. The device when carried is found toperfumerize that part of the apparel in which it is located, and henceif carried in a pocket where the tobacco of a snwker is kept, willeliminate the odor of the tobacco. It might be here stated that theplug, after having been treated with the perume desired, is suitablydried and is insert' ed in the open end 6 of the body member and forcedtherethrough by suitable means until it engages the conical end portion2 of said menier, and as said body member is diametrically taperedwithin throughout its length by reason of the character of the materialof which it is comprised, said plug is compressed to a certain extentand is permanently held in position. After the plug has been thuspositioned, a hole 7 for a suitable wick 8 is drilled through the neckportion 3 and in the plug 4, and a hole 9 is drilled through the conicalend portion 2 adjacent the wall of the body member and partly throughthe plug to a depth as indicated at 10. A striker element 11 of adiameter greater than the diameter of the hole 9 is driven into the holeand as a result, said striker is permanently secured in position andassists in holding the plug, and in addition to this, it might bementioned that the plug is expanded a certain extent and is therebyfurther held in position. If desired, the striker may be driven into theplug Without first providing a hole therein. The striker element 11 ispreferably constructed from steel and one end is pointed as at 12; andthe other end 13 which is adapted to engage the pyrophoric material isformed as shown, so that there is no undue digging or wearing away ofthe pyrophoric material.

The Wick 8 above referred to is preferably made of asbestos, and ispreferably of a relatively large diameter so as to absorb a suitablequantity of fuel, for it will be apparent that said body member ispreferably drained and then closed by a suitable cap 14, after said wickand the suitable absorbent material such as 15 has become saturated, orin other words, it might be stated, the device is preferably not adaptedto contain more liquid than is sufiicient to thoroughly moisten the Wickand absorbent material. It is desirable to insert quite an amount ofabsorbent material in the body member about the wick for saturation soas to insure a sufficient fuel supply for a long period of time. It willbe evident that upon saturating the wick and absorbent material With theliquid fuel, the plug 4 will be caused to expand and will thereby becomeimmovable.

A cap member 18 is employed for covering the wick 8 and the striker 1l,andis adapted to frictionally engage the body member as shown, by reason`of 'providing a circumferential band portion 18 which extends inwardlyof the cap member so as to insure good friction al engagement with thebody member. Said cap member 18 is integral, of tubular construction andformed with an end 19l which is relatively thick.` A transverse slot 20of a length less than the diameter of said cap is provided in the end19, and' mounted Within said slot is a piece of pyrophoric ma terial 21which is held therein by crimping the end 19 over as indicated at 22.The pyrophoric material is preferably positioned within the slot so thatit is sunk below the plane formed by the end of the cap, as indicated at23. Said pyrophoric material is also preferably constructed of a lengthless than the length of said slot so as to provide a space 24 at eachend of the pyrophoric material; the object of which is to permit thestriker end of the striker element 1l to suddenly drop when drawn alongacross the pyrophoric material. by being sunk below the plane formed bythe end of the cap, provides a portion 25 in spaced relation adjacenteach end of the pyrophoric material, and said portions 25 therebyprovide stops to limit the movement of the striker. It will be notedthat the slot' and pyrophoric material are formed of theshape shown, butof course it is to be understood they may be formed otherwise.Obviously, the end of the cap member 18 may be rounded as at 26. Itmight be mentioned that the cap member 18 is adapted to be fitted overthe end of the body member as 'shown until it engages the end of thestriker element 11, and thus said striker element provides a stop forsaid cap.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same Without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

The pyrophoric material yloo What I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. A. tubular body member having a closed end, the thickness of thematerial of said body at said end being of a greater dimension than thematerial at the other end so as to provide an inside taper, a plugtreated with a perfume forcibly arranged in said body against said endand held by reason of the taper, a wick and a striker supported by saidplug, caps provided for said body, and pyrophoric means carried by oneof said caps in a manner whereby a stop is formed in spaced relation ateither end of said pyroplioric means.

2. in integral tubular body member having a closed end, means permeatedwith a perfume arranged in said body member adjacent said closed end,apert res provided in said end and in said means for supporting a wickand a striker, caps provided for said body member, pyrophoric meanscarried by and arranged with respect to one of said caps, in a mannerwhereby a spa e is provided at either end of the pyrophoric means toallow the stri rer to suddenly drop when drawn athereacross, and the capcarryir said pyropnori-c means being` formed w a circumferential bandportion extending inwardly to provide means for frietionally engagingsaid body men'lber.

3. An integral body member having one end thereof closed, said bodymember being of tubular construction with the inside diameter near saidclosed end portion being of a less dimension than the other end, meansforcibly arranged Within said body adjacent said closed end, an apertureprovided in said closed end and in said means, and a wick mounted insaid aperture with one end within the body member and the other endextended, a striker element supported by said means, a cap provided foreach end of said body member, said caps being adapted to frictionallyengage said body member, a piece of pyrophoric material carried by oneof said caps, said pyrophoric material being arranged in a sunkenposition and secured by crimpinw said cap member thereover, and a stopprovided in spaced relation adjacent each end of said pyrophoricmaterial..

4. An integral body member having a closed end, said body member beingof tubular construction and the material at said end being of a greaterthickness than the remaining material, a perfumed plug forcibly arrangedwithin said body against said closed end and adapted to be partly heldin position by expanding upon the absorption of a liquid, an apertureformed in said closed end and in said plug, a wick extended through saidaperture, another aperture provided in said closed end and extendingpartway through said plug, a striker having a diameter greater than thediameter of said last-mentioned aperture forcibly arranged therein, atubular cap member provided for said body member, a circumferential bandportion extending inwardly of said cap member, said band portion beingadapted to frictionally engage said body member, and a piece ofpyrophoric material carried by said cap member.

5. An integral tubular body member having a closed end, the insidediameter of said member being tapered throughout its length, a plugtreated with a perfume forcibly arranged within said body member againstsaid closed end, a wick of a relatively large diameter extended throughsaid end and through said plug, a striker carried by said body member, apair of caps provided for said body member, one of said caps beingprovided with a slot, a piece of pyrophoric ma.- terial mounted in saidslot in a manner whereby a stop is provided in spaced relation at eitherend of said pyrophoric material, the space adjacent each stop being ofa. size to permit the end of said striker to suddenly drop when saidstriker is drawn across said pyrophoric material.

6. An integral body member having a conical end terminating in a neckportion, said body member being of tubular construction and the materialat said conical end being of a greater thickness than the remainingmaterial, a perfumed plug forcibly arranged within said body adjacentsaid end and adapted to be partly held in position by expansion upon theabsorption of a liquid, an aperture of a relatively large width providedin said neck portion and in said plug, a wick extended through saidaperture, an aperture provided in said conical end and extending partway through said plug, a striker of a width greater than the width ofthe aperture forcibly arranged therein, a cap member provided for saidbody member, a circumferential band portion extending inwardly of thecap member and adapted to frictionally engage said body member, a pieceof pyrophoric material carried by and arranged with Y respect to saidcap member in a position to provide a space at either end thereof tothereby allow the striker to suddenly drop when drawn across saidpyrophoric material.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day of April,A. D. 1931.

ALBERT F. COX.

